EnglishAges 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Use apostrophes accurately in shortened verb contractions and singular or plural possessive nouns. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

New variation Try interactive challenge Browse templates

Age band:Ages 7-9 Ages 10-12

Choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Use your browser’s paper setting for A4 or Letter.

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
2. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · Contractions & possessive …
3. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
4. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
Which form shows the toys … · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · Contractions & possessive …
6. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …
8. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
“the women’s coats” · “the wom · Contractions & possessive …
9. Which form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
“the bird’s nest” · “the birds · Contractions & possessive …
10. Which form shows a hat belonging to one girl: “the girl’s hat” or “the girls’ hat”?
“the girl’s hat” · “the girls’ · Contractions & possessive …
11. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
“it is” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 60 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
2. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
the teachers’ room
For a plural noun already ending in s (“teachers”), place the apostrophe after the s (“teachers’”).
3. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Who’s
“Who’s” is the contraction of “Who is”.
4. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
the children’s toys
Because “children” is an irregular plural not ending in s, add ’s (“children’s”).
5. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
can’t
The apostrophe in “can’t” replaces the omitted letters “no” in “cannot”.
6. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
7. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
8. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
the women’s coats
“Women” is an irregular plural not ending in s, so add ’s (“women’s”).
9. Which form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
the bird’s nest
A singular possessive noun requires an apostrophe before the s (“bird’s”).
10. Which form shows a hat belonging to one girl: “the girl’s hat” or “the girls’ hat”?
the girl’s hat
For a singular noun (“girl”), add ’s to show possession (“girl’s”).
11. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Whose
“Whose” is the possessive pronoun asking whom the notebook belongs to.
12. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
it’s
“It’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” (or “it has”).

12 questions · Seed 60 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
2. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
“the teachers’ room” · “the te · Contractions & possessive …
3. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
4. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
Which form shows the toys … · Contractions & possessive …
5. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
“cannot” · Contractions & possessive …
6. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
“we have” · Contractions & possessive …
7. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
“they are” · Contractions & possessive …
8. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
“the women’s coats” · “the wom · Contractions & possessive …
9. Which form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
“the bird’s nest” · “the birds · Contractions & possessive …
10. Which form shows a hat belonging to one girl: “the girl’s hat” or “the girls’ hat”?
“the girl’s hat” · “the girls’ · Contractions & possessive …
11. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Which word correctly compl… · Contractions & possessive …
12. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
“it is” · Contractions & possessive …

12 questions · Seed 60 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Contractions & possessive apostrophes

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Which word correctly completes: “The cat licked ____ paws” (its / it’s)?
its
Possessive “its” never takes an apostrophe; “it’s” means “it is”.
2. Which form shows the classroom belonging to several teachers: “the teachers’ room” or “the teacher’s room”?
the teachers’ room
For a plural noun already ending in s (“teachers”), place the apostrophe after the s (“teachers’”).
3. Which word correctly completes: “____ going to the science museum today?” (Who’s / Whose)?
Who’s
“Who’s” is the contraction of “Who is”.
4. Which form shows the toys belonging to the children: “the children’s toys” or “the childrens’ toys”?
the children’s toys
Because “children” is an irregular plural not ending in s, add ’s (“children’s”).
5. What is the contracted form of “cannot”?
can’t
The apostrophe in “can’t” replaces the omitted letters “no” in “cannot”.
6. What is the contracted form of “we have”?
we’ve
The apostrophe in “we’ve” replaces the letters “ha” in “have”.
7. What is the contracted form of “they are”?
they’re
The apostrophe in “they’re” replaces the letter “a” in “are”.
8. Which form shows the coats belonging to the women: “the women’s coats” or “the womens’ coats”?
the women’s coats
“Women” is an irregular plural not ending in s, so add ’s (“women’s”).
9. Which form shows the nest belonging to one bird: “the bird’s nest” or “the birds nest”?
the bird’s nest
A singular possessive noun requires an apostrophe before the s (“bird’s”).
10. Which form shows a hat belonging to one girl: “the girl’s hat” or “the girls’ hat”?
the girl’s hat
For a singular noun (“girl”), add ’s to show possession (“girl’s”).
11. Which word correctly completes: “____ notebook was left on the laboratory bench?” (Whose / Who’s)?
Whose
“Whose” is the possessive pronoun asking whom the notebook belongs to.
12. What is the contracted form of “it is”?
it’s
“It’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” (or “it has”).

12 questions · Seed 60 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification